SANTA CLARA – For most of the last four months, the general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan, from San Francisco 49ers, took every opportunity to reaffirm their belief that Jimmy Garoppolo will be the starting defender for the team in 2021.
While speculating on the quarterback’s plans for Niners It didn’t stop, nothing changed. The only way to continue without Garoppolo, is whether there is certainty that an improvement can be made in its place. To this end, there is a possibility that it may persist during off-season activities NFL, His name is Deshaun Watson.
Watson informed Houston Texans you don’t intend to play for them anymore. Texans they have repeatedly said they have no interest in transferring to Watson. An intense game of “chickens” seems to take place.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported last month that 49ers I’m an “intriguing” team Watson. This is significant just because Watson has a total unchanged clause and can dictate its fate, if and when, Texans I decide to transfer it.
Make no mistake, the situation Watson is one closely followed by 49ers, although there is no guarantee that it will be changed, an agreement that the analyst ESPNMike Tannenbaum believes he will need “at least” three first-round picks.
49ers, with the 12th general election, should include a young star as a defensive end Nick Bosa a linebacker Fred Warner as part of the agreement. It can be argued that ls Niners must keep the best players, stay with Garoppoloand use your project capital to continue building your list. Bosain particular, it seems an unlikely bargaining chip, given its youth, relatively low price and value given Niners to forest hunters. Sacrificing too many resources would also make the Niners less attractive to a player like Watson.
But Tannenbaum thinks so Watson could give at Niners the kind of backbone of the franchise that could offset the loss of any player involved in the transaction.
“Nick Bosa He is one of the first three or four best players in the league who are not defenders, but would need someone like Deshaun Watson so that he would at least think of passing it on: “But in order to get someone like Deshaun Watson, change the franchise for the next 10 years. You get Steph Curry. You get a great player and you get a great leader and a great person. You would let go Nick Bosa to reach Steph Curry? “.
While Texans Apparently they intend to keep up with their defender Watson It seems to be reaffirming its position, leaving teams interested in its services – and there will be many – waiting on the periphery and formulating a plan in case something changes.
According to Tannenbaum, who was general manager for New York Jets and executive vice president of operations Miami Dolphins, the project NFL It is the logical moment for Texans decide if your relationship with Watson can be saved.
“It’s incredible to me that six or eight months ago he signed an extension and you’re going to pay him $ 39 million”; Tannenbaum explained. “You have to make it work. You can’t let it work.”
From his perspective 49ers, any potential exchange for Watson seems difficult to identify, especially before the project NFL. Niners have the selection no. 12, leaving them behind jets (No. 2), Dolphins (No. 3), Carolina Panthers (No. 8) and Denver Broncos (N ° 9) among the teams that might be of interest Watson. This is remarkable given the probability that any swap Texans implying Watsonit will probably require you to be able to select a replacement.
More, Dolphins Yes jets They have more choices in the first round this year, giving them more ammunition for a business if that is the path they want to follow. All this means that if Niners I want to be real players looking for potential Watson, will probably have to grit their teeth and make a difficult decision regarding a star player, coupled with drafts, as a reward.
June Jones, who drove Garoppolo to East-West Shrine game since 2014 and is faithful to his talent, he believes that Watson would provide a set of skills San Francisco that would allow Shanahan evolves to offense.
“I would do great things,” said Jones, the team’s former head coach The Atlanta Falcons and current instructor for CoachTube.com. “I think Kyle Shanahan reduced the offense a little, because he is not as confident in Garoppolo. It’s not the same crime I committed [Matt] Ryan when they went to Super Bowl, e.g. They were in three, four, five open formations and threw the ball. That’s what he did. This has evolved from your staff.
“Deshaun could do just about anything. I know who he’s reaching Deshaun WatsonYou will open things up and you will discover that this is how they will take you to the maximum.
Since his arrival Shanahan In 2017, the defenders from Niners ranquean N ° 29 in NFL in hurried yards and the last in crossings that travel at least 20 meters in the air. Watson He ranks fourth among quarterbacks in speed yards and 11th in passing attempts in which the ball moves at least 20 yards, while 45.4 percent of finishes on those passes. places him in second place in the same period.
A benefit that Niners could get if Watson beyond the project? Such a scenario would erase any choice in terms of choices that other clubs might have. San Francisco. And since 49ers I am comfortable with Garoppolo As a holder in 2021, you must not act out of desperation. 49ers they can wait without rushing to another option.
An agreement for Watson seems unlikely, except that he expressly requests to be transferred to Niners. This means Garoppolo with new substitutes seems the most likely path for the team in 2021. But crazy things are happening in NFLand, with the lowering of the salary cap and the rotation of the defender’s carousel, nothing can be ruled out.
“Once you have this defender, everything changes,” Tannenbaum said. “No matter the price, you will look back and laugh. The choices in the first round, depending on where you choose, are not always a certainty. Deshaun Watson It is a certainty. “